Eliot P. S. Merrill is a Managing Director focused on U.S. buyout opportunities in the telecommunications and media sectors. He is based in New York. Prior to joining Carlyle, Mr. Merrill was a Principal at Freeman Spogli & Co., a buyout fund with offices in New York and Los Angeles. Prior to that, Mr. Merrill worked at Dillon Read & Co. Inc. in the Mergers and Acquisitions Group. Before that, Mr. Merrill was a Sail Consultant and Special Project Coordinator for Doyle Sailmakers, Inc. Mr. Merrill graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College. Mr. Merrill is a member of the Board of Directors of Getty Images and TCW. He formerly was on the Board of The Nielsen Company B.V.